WHITEVILLE — The nerves will eventually show up. Zach Pait can guarantee that.

The Whiteville junior pitcher will get the start on Friday for the Class 1A state championship series opener against East Surry. He’s been in this situation time and time again this year.

This time, the stakes and the surroundings will be different.

“I think about it, but I try to let myself let it (sink in), but it hasn’t sunk in all the way yet. I’m sure it will once we leave school and get there,” Pait said.

All season, Whiteville has had two pitchers ready to go when called upon. It’s a formula that has the Wolfpack playing for their program’s sixth state championship.

Pait, the veteran, leads the team with an 11-2 record. He owns a 1.08 ERA in 64 1/3 innings of work. He’s struck out 70 batters and issued just seven walks. Freshman teammate Mackenzie Gore is the other arm in the arsenal, going 6-0 with 0.96 ERA and 102 strikeouts to 10 walks.

There might be better individual pitchers in the state, but there aren’t many better starting combos.

Coming into the year, Whiteville coach Brett Harwood thought he could have as many as four pitchers rotating around in the team’s starting lineup. Instead, the group whittled itself down to Pait and Gore.

Pait added some velocity (about five or six miles per hour according to Harwood) in the offseason. Gore outdid all preseason expectations, becoming the only freshman on the varsity roster.

“I really thought it was going to be one of the deeper pitching staffs that we’ve had, maybe not the dominant guy, but the deeper staff,” Harwood said. “(Zach) grew as a player. He got a lot more confident and just really accepted the role of going up and being one of our guys. With Mackenzie, he’s just gotten better every game and every day. He’s still a freshman and there’s still a lot of room for growth for him. We’re pleased with where our pitching staffs at.”

Those two arms will be the main weapons Whiteville will employ when it faces a 30-0 East Surry team. Two wins will make the Wolfpack the new state champions.

Pait has tried to let the thought of playing at Five County Stadium on Friday sink in. He figures the sooner he can think about it, the sooner he can get over and simply play ball.

It hasn’t hit yet, but it will. And when it does, he’ll be ready.

“Most of my nerves are during the national anthem, waiting and anticipating it. But once I get up there, I’ll be fine,” Pait said.

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About This Blog

Hey there, I’m Tim Howerand I’m the high school sports writer for the StarNews.

Originally from Pennsylvania, I move to Wilmington in 1995 and have been here ever since. I began working as a part time sports reporter with the StarNews when I was 16. When I’m not out covering games, I like to root for my favorite teams — Michigan, Phillies, Panthers — as well as play tennis. I also enjoy volunteering at my church, Pine Valley United Methodist.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you have about our coverage of high school sports in Southeastern NC.